As one ages, the familiarity of home is a blessing

Presented by Right at Home

There truly is no place like home. No matter how much fun one has while on vacation visiting exciting and new destinations, travelers are always happy to be back to the comfort of their own home. That feeling doesn’t change as people grow older.

Dr. Eboni Ivory Green, RN, PhD, co-founder and president of Caregiver Support Services in Omaha, explained that the home environment is more familiar and personal to aging individuals. “It’s usually the preference because it’s comfortable for them,” said Dr. Green. “If someone is able to remain in their home setting, they are able to focus more on their healing process because they do not have the additional worry of becoming acclimated to their surroundings. For instance, I’ve been working with a caregiver who has been caring for her grandmother. She broke her hip in a long term facility because she suffers from vision problems as well as her age. When she would awaken, the risk of falling had increased because she was not familiar with her surroundings. Knowing where you are and where your things are can really help someone in their ability to heal.”

Dr. Green said that according to the majority of statistics available from organizations such as AARP and the National Alliance of Caregivers, the majority of the elderly are being cared for in homes rather than assisted living or nursing home facilities. She also said that the preferred way for individuals to access long-term care support and actually receive services and programs is to stay in the home.

“You can really personalize the care your aging loved one is receiving,” said Dr. Green. “When looking for a caregiver, you can tailor the care to their specific needs. Requirements range from only needing meal preparation or companionship to needing assistance with personal care.”

Another benefit is the cost-effectiveness of keeping the loved one in the home. “Assisted living or a nursing home environment is expensive,” said Dr. Green. “You may find an individual is running out of resources a lot faster than if they are receiving similar services in a home setting.”

Most people genuinely want to be caregivers for their family member or loved one, but need some assistance to avoid becoming overly stressed.

Dr. Green explained that it isn’t usually that the needs of the individual are great, it is just important to consider the caregiver’s needs also.

“Future planning is important,” said Dr. Green. “Families need to consider what support will be necessary to keep their loved one at home; not only for their loved one, but also for the caregiver whether it is friends, family, churches or an organization like ours that can provide actual hands-on at-home assistance. This really needs to be discussed with the individual and other family members so that in the long-run, you don’t have to access a long-term care setting simply because you have worn yourself out.”

For more information, contact Right at Home In Home Care & Assistance by calling (877) 697-7537 or visiting www.rightathome.net.